At 6 feet 5, the Ohio State senior center has been one of the tallest players on the court since she took over a starting role for the Buckeyes midway through her freshman season.

A coaching change in March, however, turned the soft-spoken Adams into perhaps the most-visible player on Ohio State’s bench.

New coach Kevin McGuff has gone to a smaller lineup anchored inside by 6-2 senior post Darryce Moore instead of Adams, who admits to some frustration with her more-limited role.

“At the same time, I have to look to the bigger picture,” Adams said. “Whatever style he wants to play, that’s the style that I have to do.”

McGuff’s style, Adams said, is “more like Darryce Moore — physical and aggressive. I wouldn’t want to just come in and say, ‘Well, I need to play because I need to play.’ Darryce has been playing really well lately.”

Moore will start again tonight when the Buckeyes (8-6) play Appalachian State (2-7) at Value City Arena. Adams will come off the bench for a reason.

In the five games before an 82-60 victory over Tennessee-Martin on Sunday, Adams had logged roughly eight minutes in each. She didn’t score in four of the games and totaled five rebounds.

The lack of production drew quick hooks from McGuff in favor of 6-6 freshman center Lisa Blair, who McGuff believed delivered more energy than Adams. Blair also communicated more on the court with teammates.

“He wants me more aggressive and more talkative, yeah,” Adams said. “That’s just like the opposite of me. At the same time, I’m getting there … just slowly. It’s a lot slower. Actually, I figured I’d pick up on the style like the rest of them.”

With Moore in foul trouble on Sunday, McGuff turned to Adams and she delivered 23 solid minutes. She had seven points, six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.

The block of a three-point shot led to a three-point play by Martina Ellerbe. On the next possession, Adams assisted Amy Scullion on a three-pointer, and she followed that by scoring after an offensive rebound to cap a decisive 12-0 run by the Buckeyes in the second half.

“Our size really bothered them,” McGuff said. “I thought that was the best that Ashley has played in a while. I was happy to see that. She gave us some great minutes, and hopefully that gets her going again. We need her.”

Her teammates want Adams to return to form as a complement to Moore.

“Ashley and Darryce played great games,” Scullion said. “We need that from them every time. And when Ashley plays like that, it’s a huge help.”

Adams knows that she has to deliver to stay in plain sight on the court.

“I have to come in and play as hard as I can for the time I’m in there,” she said.